Grand Rapids Recycling Facilities Install AI Robots to Help Sorting

The recycling facilities in Kent County, Mich. Will now have four new robots for sorting, three of which will be powered by artificial intelligence.

The new robots will help facilities sort materials more quickly and, maybe more importantly, sorting will be more efficient.

Kent County’s facilities were able to purchase the robot arms with a part of the $406,000 grant that was given from Michigan’s Depart of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Joining the three AI robots is a magnetic separator that removes metals like aluminum, copper, and lead from other materials.

The county promised that the new robotic arms would not be replacing any human jobs, instead the robots will make working at facility safer for workers and improve efficiency.

“With the price coming down on some of this technology, it’s allowing more and more facilities like this to install it,” Steve Faber, communications and marketing manager for Kent County Department of Public Works, said. “In the last 13 years, we’ve almost redone the entire processing plan with new technology as it comes. What it looks like in five, 10,15,20 years… it will only get better.”

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